I am opposed to subsidizing an East Lansing developer with $40 Million of taxpayer money to carry out their proposed $184 Million project. With the interest, the bill to the taxpayers will really be $80 Million.

Some have attempted to represent the $40 Million as a loan that the city will earn back. The confusion here as to loan vs. gift is clear evidence of the obfuscation being promoted to keep voters from expressing more interest. The fact that MAYBE the city MIGHT make back the money in tax revenues does not make it a loan. When I first heard about the project I thought it was a loan. Then, I learned that it is a subsidy.

I am not anti-development and I am not a NIMBY. I grew up in New York City and I am not afraid of tall buildings. I did not have a solid opinion on Lowertown until after attending the presentation from Strathmore at the Northside Grill that was hosted by my opponent for City Council, John Roberts. I was there when the developer attempted to mislead people into thinking the 45 day clock had not yet started for a deadline to collect signatures to oppose this. Only at the end, after several people pressed him for an explicit answer did the developer say he “misspoke” earlier when he implied that the clock had not yet started ticking. This was a big red flag for me. I have learned the hard way in business that letting these sorts of red flags go by can easily lead you into a relationship where you end up getting screwed.

How many times in the next quarter century will the city of Ann Arbor be able to take this kind of a risk and if this is the only time or one of a small number of times is this the project we want for our gamble?

After I am elected to City Council on August 8, 2006, I will be a tough negotiator on behalf of Ann Arbor taxpayers.